MP says local taxpayers should not pay to police national fracking protestors

A meeting is to take place at the highest level to discuss the costs of policing the fracking protests at Kirby Misperton.

The Home Office Minister, Nick Hurd, has agreed to meet the Police and Crime Commissioner, Julia Mulligan, and Kevin Hollinrake after the Thirsk and Malton MP raised concerns about the pressure the policing of protestors is having on local resources.

North Yorkshire Police is providing an around the clock presence to ensure that the protest against shale gas extraction is peaceful, disruption to local people kept to an absolute minimum and to allow people to go about their lawful business.

Many of the protestors are part of a national campaign and so they want the full costs to be borne by the national government rather than local taxpayers.

Mr Hollinrake said: "I am clear in my support for the peaceful protest, but obstructing the highway, locking on and other forms of protest require a strong police presence to prevent these unreasonable actions.

“Our local police force, who are doing a very good job in these very difficult circumstances, should be keeping our local communities safe and should not have to turn out in large numbers to keep order amongst protestors, many of whom have come from other parts of the UK.”

So far, 48 people have been arrested in connection with protest activity and 36 have been charged.